Vancouver man ID’d as victim in fatal I-5 crash

The victim in a fatal crash on Interstate 5 on Hayden Island Sunday was identified as a Vancouver man. Benjamin Craig King, 44, was killed in a fiery four-vehicle crash which investigators say was caused by the driver of a tractor-trailer, according to the Portland Police Bureau. A 2012 International tractor-trailer driven by Bruce Kelpert, 51, of British Columbia, was traveling south on I-5 when Kelpert failed to stop for traffic, Portland police said. The tractor trailer crashed into the back of King’s car, a 2004 Suzuki sedan, which was pushed into a 2007 Lincoln Town Car, crushing the car and causing the Suzuki to burst into flames, police said. King died at the scene. Police said a fourth car, a 2000 Oldsmobile Alero, was also involved in the crash. The two driver of the Town Car, 79-year-old Delpha Camp and a passenger in that vehicle as well as the driver of the Alero, 46-year-old Ingrid Hernandez, and a passenger in her vehicle were all taken to area hospitals. Their conditions were not available, but police described their injuries as not life threatening. Kelpert, the driver of the tractor-trailer, remained at the scene and cooperated with investigators, police said. He did not show any signs of impairment nor was there any indication of distracted driving, investigators said. After consulting with a deputy district attorney for the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office, police issued Kelbert a traffic citation for careless driving while the investigation into the crash continues.